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Live theatre in libraries: performances for schools

Working with The Spark Arts for Children Inspire is bringing some of the best performers and theatre companies into libraries just for school groups.

The First: a play about World War 1 for younger audiences

Touring Inspire Libraries:  19 - 22 November 2018

The First is a play based on the global events of WW1, told from the perspective of two boys from a small town in the East Midlands. 

Age: Year 5/6 (KS2)
Cost:  £90 per class (subsided by Arts Council England  - usual cost £160 per class)
Running time: 60 minutes

Curriculum Links

Literacy, PSHE (Friendships, Citzenship, Remembrance), History, Geography, English Literature (Creative Writing and War Poetry) KS2

Date Library Capacity
Monday 19 November, 9.30am Beeston Library 60
Tuesday 20 November, 10am Kirkby-in-Ashfield Library 30
Wednesday 21 November Worksop Library Provisionally booked
Thursday 22 November, 10am & 1.30pm Mansfield Central Library 60 per show

For more information, or to book contact:
Steve Powell
T: 0115 804 4418
E: steve.powell@inspireculture.org.uk

The First: Play Leaflet PDF, 806.0 KB

See more information about the play here

The Learning Opportunity
Attending a performance in your library will open up a range of learning opportunities for your students.  The First experience can be enhanced with a number of activities, including a bespoke learning framework and a script programme from the show.  

Among Ideal Friends

Among Ideal Friends is a theatre touring consortium developed by The Spark Arts for Children in partnership with library services in the East Midlands.  It is supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England. 


Being part of the consortium means Inspire Libraries can access live theatre performances in our libraries that we are able to offer to schools at a reduced rate.    Each autumn until 2020 will see a performance particularly suited to school audiences.